On 5th November Women’s aid reported that Claire Throssell MBE and Women’s Aid delivered to 10 Downing Street a petition supported by 100,000 people aimed at ending unsafe contact for children where there has been domestic abuse toward a parent or child.
Sophie Francis-Cansfield, Head of Policy at Women’s Aid, said:
“The family courts have long presumed that it is in a child’s best interests to have contact with both parents, and while this doesn’t apply where there is evidence of risk of harm to a child, the strong pro-contact culture – as found and confirmed by an independent government review – often hinders the required threshold being reached. Children are being put in direct harm by an outdated presumption that overlooks the dynamic of domestic abuse and actions of perpetrators and does not align with the legal recognition of children as victims in their own right.
Women’s Aid is honoured to be campaigning alongside Claire and stand in solidarity with her as she pushes for life-saving change, and all women and children who have been affected by the family courts. We are grateful to all the people who have signed the petition, showing the broad support for this urgently needed change to protect the lives of children.”
For the Women’s Aid press release see here.
Original reporting by Family Law Week